“When a critic writes a novel, it’s like one of those movies where the cop crosses the line and gets tossed in jail along with the people he put there,” he said. “There’s no question, writing fiction has changed the way I review.” – Lev Grossman (above) isn’t as into book review hatchet jobs as he once was.

• Virginia Woolf, Denis Johnson, Borges, and other books on Justin Taylor’s shelf.

• If you’ve ever wondered the difference between an American and a French “Gatsby,” this article might help.

• Three Guys One Book on Ben Loory.

• Liturgy in this week’s New Yorker.